Forming die



June 29, 1965 s. EGE

FORMING DIE Filed Dec. 15, 1961 WQEEE a INVENTOR. SIGMUND EGE of... my,

United States Patent 3,191,374 FORMING DIE Sigmund Ege, Hastings onHudson, N.Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Anaconda Wire and Cable Company, a corporation ofDelaware Filed Dec. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 159,704 8 Claims. (Cl. 57-138) Myinvention relates to strand forming dies and particularly to said diesfor forming strand sealed with pasty filler.

In the manufacture of electric cables of the type which may be exposedto pressurized fluids it is desirable to seal the cable with aputty-like filler material which will effectively prevent any fluid frompassing down the cable length. The more effective filling compounds havea very viscous, putty-like consistency and for that reason it isdilficult or impossible to force them into completed cables but, rather,it is necessary to introduce the compound along with the strands duringthe cabling operation. p

' As normally practiced, the operation of cabling consists of thecontinuous twisting of a plurality of strands around a central core oraround each other while they are simultaneously advancing forward andthe stranded cable is taken-up on a reel or similar device. In orderthat the strands be twisted uniformly and the cable have a smooth outersurface of the desired diameter the strands are passed through a formingor closing-in die with a bore diameter approximately equal to thediameter of the desired cable. It is known to relieve the entrancetermination of the die bores to prevent cutting or shaving of thestrands and when filling compound is introduced during the strandingoperation the entrance relief becomes filled with compound that isforced back by the constriction of the die bore. I have found thatalthough sufficient compound may be introduced into the strands duringthe cabling operation to thoroughly fill all the interstices, whenconventional dies are used, so much of the compound is squeezed back bythe die that the finished cable is insufiiciently filled. I have alsofound that if the relieved portion of the die is extended back for theproper distance, within narrow limits, the bank of compound accumulatedin the entrance offers sufficient resistance to back flow to assure thatthe cable is properly filled. Unfortunately, however, it is seldompossible to tell in advance of the actual cabling operation just howmuch die relief area is needed for a particular cable construction. Thisis due to the fact that the area required depends in a manner, themathematical details of which are not known, on such factors as thecompressibility of the cable strands, the temperature coefiicient ofviscosity of the compound, the tension on the strands, etc. Consequentlya die must be selected by trial and error. Once the stranding operationhas been started, however, it is not possible to change dies without atleast leaving an oversize or irregular lump in the cable which for manycritical types of cables is intolerable.

I have overcome the aforementioned difiiculties by the use of a splitcollar that can be changed at will to increase or decrease the dierelief without disturbing the main bore of the die. My strand formingdie comprises a block with an internal bore and a replaceable splitcollar with a tapered aperture and preferably with a counterbore fittingover the .block. The bore of my block is relieved by a tapered relief,preferably conical and preferably having an included angle ofapproximately 90". The tapered aperture of the collar is also preferablyof truncated conical shape and preferably has an included angle ofapproximately 90. The aperture has a wide entrance and a reduced outletthat matche the relief and my apparatus includes means for connecting3,191,374 Patented June 29, 1965 the collar to the block with theaperture in registration with the bore or bore relief. A'more completeunderstanding may be obtained by studying the drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side view in section of a die made in accordance with myinvention.

FIGURE 2 is an end View of the die of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing the die, indicated generally by the numeral 10is comprised of a block 11, and a collar 12. The block has a cylindricalbore 13 with a conical relief 14 forming an included angle a of AlthoughI have shown the block 11 in its preferred form of a unitary member itwill be understood that split blocks can also be used within the scopeof my invention but a unitary block has an advantage in cost andsimplicity. The block 11 will preferably be hardened steel or tungstencarbide or of similar wear resistant construction but may also be nylonor even wood. I prefer to make the collar 12 of hardened steel. The bore13 has an exit relief 16 of usual design for which no novelty isclaimed. Although I prefer an inclined angle of 90 and a straight-walledconical shape for the relief 14 I do not wish these features to belimiting.

The collar 12 is split into matching halves 17, 18 (FIGURE 2) which canbe locked together by means of machine screws 19 with heads 21 that abutagainst shoulders 22 in the half 18 while the screws are threaded intotapped holes 23 in the half 17. A tapered aperture 24 in the collar 12has a wide entrance 26 and a reduced outlet 27 which matches an entrance28 to the relief 14. A set screw 29 threaded in a tapped hole 31 in theside .18 of the collar 12 serves to lock the collar 12 to the block 11.t In the operation of my die, cable strands and filling compound enterthe die through entrance 26 and the stranded cable emerge from therelief 16. In a very short length of time a bank of the compound buildsup within the entrance formed by the relief 14 and aperture 24. Thisbank is continually urged forward by the forward motion of the strandsand it resists the back pressure of compound wiped off by the restrictedbore 13. The amount of compound retained in the entrance can be changedby changing the length L of the collar 12 and if inspection of the cableindicates that an insulficient quantity of compound is being retainedthe collar 12 is removed by loosening the screws 21 and another collarwith a longer length L is substituted. It is a feature of my inventionthat this change can be done without the break in operation which wouldbe occasioned by removal or change of the die block 11.

I have invented a new and useful article of manufacture for which Idesire an award of Letters Patent.

I claim:

1. In. an apparatus for filling and stranding a cable strand of the typewherein a bank of putty-like filler material is retained at the upstreamentrance of a strandforrning die the combination with said apparatus ofa strand-forming die comprising a block having an internal bore, a splitcollar replaceable around said strand having a tapered aperture forretaining said bank, said aperture having a wide entrance and a reducedoutlet, said outlet matching said bore and means for connecting saidcollar to said block with said outlet in registration with said bore.

2. In an apparatus for filling and stranding a cable strand of the typewherein a bank of putty-like filler material is retained at the upstreamentrance of a strandforming die the combination with said apparatus of astrand-forming die comprising a block having an internal bore and atapered relief providing an entrance to said bore, a split collarreplaceable around said strand having a tapered aperture for retainingsaid bank, said aperture having a wide entrance and a reduced outlet,said outlet matching said relief and means for connecting said collar tosaid block With said outlet in registration with said relief.

3. In an apparatus for filling and stranding a cable strand of the typewherein a bank of putty-like filler material is retained at the upstreamentrance of a strandforming die the combination with said apparatus of astrand-forming die comprising a block-having an internal bore, a splitcollar replaceable around said strand having a tapered aperture forretaining said bank and a counterbore fitting over said block, saidaperture having a Wide entrance and a reduced outlet, said outletmatching said bore and means for connecting said collar to said blockwith said block entering said counterbore and said outlet inregistration with said bore.

4. In an apparatus for filling and stranding a cable strand of the typewherein a bank of putty-like filler material is retained at the upstreamentrance of a strandforming die the combination with said apparatus of astrand-forming die comprising a block having an internal bore and atapered relief providing an entrance to said bore, a split collarreplace-able around said strand having a tapered aperture for retainingsaid bank and a counterbore fitting over' said block, said aperturehaving a wide entrance and .a reduced outlet, said outlet matching saidrelief, and means for connecting said collar to said blockwith saidblock entering said counterbore and said outlet in registration withsaid relief.

5. In an apparatus for filling and stranding a cable strand of the typewherein a bank of putty-like filler material is retained at the upstreamentrance of a strandforming die the combination with said apparatus of astrand-forming die comprising a block having an internal bore and aconical relief providing an entrance to said bore, a split collarreplaceable around said strand having an aperture for retaining saidbank in the form of a truncated cone, said aperture having a wideentrance and a reduced outlet, said outlet matching said relief, andmeans for connecting said collar to said block with said outlet inregistration with said relief, said relief and said aperture combiningto form an enlarged conical entrance to said bore. 6. In an apparatusfor filling and stranding a cable strand of the type wherein a bank ofputty-like filler material is retained at the upstream entrance of astrandforming die the combination with said apparatus of astrand-forming die comprising a block having an internal bore and aconical relief providing an entrance to said bore, a split collarreplaceable around said strand having an aperture for retaining saidbank in the form of a truncated cone and a counterbore fitting over saidblock, said aperture having a wide entrance and a reduced outlet, saidoutlet matching said relief, and means for connecting said collar tosaid block with said block entering said counterbore and said outlet inregistration With said relief, said relief and said aperture combiningto form an enlarged conical entrance to said bore.

7. In an apparatus for filling and stranding a cable strand of the typewherein a bank of putty-like filler material is retained at the upstreamentrance of a strandforming die the combination with said apparatus of astrand-forming die comprising a block having an internal bore and aconical relief providing an entrance to said bore, said relief having anincluded angle of approximately a split collar replaceable around saidstrand having an aperture for retaining said bank in the form of atruncated cone, said aperture having a Wide entrance and a reducedoutlet, said outlet matching said relief, said truncated cone having anincluded angle of approximately 90, and means for connecting said collarto said block with said outlet in registration with said relief, saidrelief and said aperture combining to form an enlarged conical entranceto said bore.

8. In an apparatus for filling and stranding a cable strand of the typewherein a bank of putty-like filler material is retained at the upstreamentrance of a strandforming die the combination with said apparatus of astrand-forming die comprising a block having an internal bore and aconical relief providing an entrance to said bore, said relief having anincluded angle of approximately 90, a split collar replaceable aroundsaid strand having an aperture for retaining said bank in the form of atruncated cone, and a counterbore fitting over said block, said aperturehaving a Wide entrance and a reduced outlet, said outlet matchingsaidrelief, said truncated cone having an included angle ofapproximately 90, and means for connecting said collar to said blockwith said block entering said counterbore and said outlet inregistration with said relief, said relief and said aperture combiningto form an enlarged conical entrance to said bore.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 910,814 1/09He'llrnich 205-26 X 1,667,387 4/28 Kinnear 205-25 X 2,952,245 3/34Garner 205-26 X 2,222,505 11/40 Ford et al. 205-25 X 2,333,238 11/43Finnie 205-26 X 2,715,256 8/55 Siegrist 25-17 2,751,320 6/56 Jacobs etal. 156-441 XR 2,770,014 11/56 Nordlin et al. 264-210 X 2,852,425 9/58Shobert 156-180 2,863,171 12/58 Von Bergen 18-13 7 2,874,411 2/59Berquist 18-14 2,887,721 5/59 Blanchi et al. 18-14 3,109,663 11/63Phillips 205-25 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,069,192 7/54 France.

MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Primary Examiner, ROBERT F. WHITE, Examiner.

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND STRANDING A CABLE STRAND OF THE TYPEWHEREIN A BANK OF PUTTY-LIKE FILLER MATERIAL IS RETAINED AT THE UPSTREAMENTRANCE OF A STRANDFORMING DIE THE COMBINATION WITH SAID APPARATUS OF ASTRAND-FORMING DIE COMPRISING A BLOCK HAVING AN INTERNAL BORE, A SPLITCOLLAR REPLACEABLE AROUND SAID STAND HAVING A TAPERED APERTURE FORRETAINING SAID BANK, SAID APERTURE HAVING A WIDE ENTRANCE AND A REDUCEDOUTLET, SAID OUTLET MATCHING SAID BORE AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAIDCOLLAR TO SAID BLOCK WITH SAID OUTLET IN REGISTRATION WITH SAID BORE.